Apparatus for sealing an open end of a container

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for sealing an open end of a package comprises a first longitudinally extending sealing jaw, bearing mounted on a first eccentric shaft rotatable around a first rotational axis, and a second longitudinally extending sealing jaw, bearing mounted on a second eccentric shaft rotatable around a second rotational axis, the second sealing jaw being parallel with the first sealing jaw. At least one motor drives rotation around the first and second rotational axis in opposite directions, wherein the first and the second sealing jaws oppose each other, and are allowed to oscillate between sealing and open positions by moving towards and away from each other. A first and second transversally extending guiding bar cooperate with the first and second eccentric shaft via guiding pins running in guiding grooves, such that transverse play between the first and the second eccentric shaft and the first and second sealing jaw is allowed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/376,435 filed on Dec. 12, 2016, which is a continuationapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/818,504 filed on Feb.22, 2013, which is a U.S. National Stage application based onInternational Patent Application No. PCT/EP2011/064331 filed on Aug. 22,2011, which claims priority to Swedish Patent Application No. 1000902-5filed on Sep. 6, 2010, the entire content of all four of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains in general to the field of an apparatusfor sealing an open end of a container. Specifically, the presentinvention relates to an apparatus for the arrangement and steering ofsealing jaws in the sealing operation of an open end of a container.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Apparatuses for packaging pourable food in containers comprise a numberof units for performing a number of steps. In short, such an apparatusmay comprise the steps of forming a tube of a web of packaging material,forming sleeves from the tube by transversally sealing one end of thetube and/or cutting the tube, folding containers from said sleeves totheir intended final form, filling said containers with the pourablefood, and finally sealing the other end of the containers. The secondopening sealing step, i.e. the step of finally sealing the container, isperformed when the containers are in horizontal movement. Further, thefolding step can be divided into a number of sub-steps. For example,during a first folding sub-step, performed in association to the sealingstep, a section of a sleeve/container being sealed may be formed to havea rectangular cross-section. In a second folding sub-step, thesleeve/container may be folded in such a way that a rectangular base isachieved, e.g. by folding the outer ends of the sealing end into themiddle of the sealing.

In the sealing steps two sealing jaws may be arranged on opposing sidesof the sleeve. Reciprocating movement of the sealing jaws may thencreate a seal transversally in respect of the longitudinal axis of thesleeve. To ensure the obtainment of a secure and tight seal and to avoidunnecessary wear on the equipment, such as the sealing jaws, orbearings, gears, etc, affected by the movement of the sealing jaws, onewishes to make sure that the sealing jaws are parallel to each otherduring the reciprocating movement, and especially during the interactionbetween the two.

It is known within the field of a vertical flow path of containers, suchas in U.S. Pat. No. 2,606,412, U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,197, and U.S. Pat.No. 6,138,442, to use guide rods arranged transversally to thelongitudinal extension of the sealing jaws. These guiding rods aredriven by the same end motor, which means that a motor position error,e.g. due to mechanical wear, or synchronization errors between severalmotors induces high strain on the system and the guiding rods, resultingin fast wear. These guide rods also run through the sealing jaws, suchthat the sealing jaws necessarily are kept in the same plane during theentire rotational cycle, with respect to each other. In systems whereinthe sealing jaws are intended to also oscillate in the vertical plane,the strain on the guide rods will be high, resulting in fast materialwear and thus more frequent stops in the production and exchange ofparts. As a consequence of the position of these guide rods, there willalso be a need of demounting the entire sealing apparatus to performmaintenance on or exchange of the guiding rods. Also, since the guiderods run through the sealing jaws the guide rods will wear on thesealing jaws, bringing about a more frequent exchange of the expensivesealing jaws. Furthermore, the sealing pattern of the sealing jaws isaffected or limited, and it will be impossible to transport containers,sleeves, tubes, webs, etc in a horizontal and longitudinal direction,without the need of complicated elevating or lowering actions of thesealing jaws and/or the containers, sleeves, tubes, webs, etc, since theguiding rods will be in the pathway.

Hence, a new apparatus for sealing containers in horizontal movementwould be advantageous, and especially an apparatus allowing for parallelalignment of sealing jaws, while simultaneously providing a durable andhigh resistant alignment system, decreasing wear on material, increasingproductivity, alleviating exchange of parts, decrease wear on thesealing jaws, and decreasing the limitation on possible sealing patternsand/or areas.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention preferably seeks to mitigate,alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficienciesin the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination and solves atleast the above mentioned problems e.g. by providing an apparatus forsealing an open end of a package, said apparatus comprising a firstlongitudinally extending sealing jaw, bearing mounted on a firsteccentric shaft, said first eccentric shaft rotating around a firstrotational axis; a second longitudinally extending sealing jaw, bearingmounted on a second eccentric shaft, said second eccentric shaftrotating around a second rotational axis, said second sealing jaw beingparallel with said first sealing jaw; at least one motor driving therotation around said first and second rotational axis in oppositedirections; wherein the first and the second sealing jaws are opposingeach other, and are allowed to oscillate between a sealing and an openposition, by moving towards and away from each other; a first and asecond transversally extending guiding bar, bearing mounted between saidfirst and second eccentric shaft; said first and a second transversallyextending guiding bar cooperating with said first and second eccentricshaft via guiding pins running in guiding grooves, such that a playbetween the first and the second eccentric shaft and the first andsecond sealing jaw is allowed in the transversal direction.

Further advantages and preferred embodiments will be apparent from thedependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which the inventionis capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the followingdescription of embodiments of the present invention, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2a is a top view of one embodiment of the present inventionillustrating a closed position of the first and second sealing jaws, and

FIG. 2b is a top view of one embodiment of an apparatus for sealing anopen end of a package, illustrating an open position of the first andsecond sealing jaws.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Several embodiments of the present invention will be described in moredetail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in order forthose skilled in the art to be able to carry out the invention. Theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art.

According to a first embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1, an apparatus isdisclosed, said apparatus comprising a first and a second longitudinallyextending sealing jaw 101, 102, arranged on opposing sides of a flowpath of a sleeve of a packaging material or a semi manufacturedcontainer/package, partly folded and raised and transported in ahorizontal and longitudinal direction through the apparatus. Forconvenience purposes only the sleeve embodiment will be referred tobelow. Reciprocating/oscillating movement of the sealing jaws 101, 102may then create a seal transversally in respect of the longitudinal axisof the sleeve. The reciprocating/oscillating movement comprises pushingand pulling the sealing jaws 101, 102 together and apart, respectively,between a sealing and an open position.

In one embodiment an induction element may be arranged laterally of thefirst sealing jaw 101, i.e. behind the sealing surface of the firstsealing jaw 101. The induction element will heat an aluminum foil in thesleeve material and optionally metal parts of the sealing jaws 101, 102or the sealing surface thereof, respectively, whereby a plastic film inthe sleeve material will be melted, such that the sleeve will be sealedwhen the two sides of the sleeve are pressed together. Alternatively,the sleeve and the plastic film comprised therein may be preheatedbefore the sealing step.

A first and a second servomotor 103, 104 drive the reciprocatingmovement. To this end, the first and the second servomotor 103, 104rotate a first and a second eccentric shaft 105, 106 about a first and asecond rotational axis 107, 108. The first and a second eccentric shaft105, 106 may be driven/rotated in one direction when the first andsecond sealing jaws 101, 102 are pushed together, and the otherdirection when the first and second sealing jaws 101, 102 are pulledapart. When the eccentric shafts 105, 106 are driven in oppositedirections depending on if they push the sealing jaws together or ifthey pull them apart, the needed space for the rotation of the sealingjaws 101, 102 may be decreased. Also, the sealing action may push thepackage/container somewhat downwards, where after the sealing action maybe ceased and the sealing jaws then being rotated the other way,allowing for the package/container to maintain a preferred width also inthe top region. Due to the specific configuration of the different partsof the apparatus, the servomotors 103, 104 may be arranged beneath atable carrying the apparatus, whereby the space above the apparatus maybe kept free, thus lowering the risk of filling product contamination.

The eccentric shafts 105, 106 have a greater longitudinal extension thanthe sealing jaws 101,102. Analogously, the sealing jaws 101, 102 haveanterior and posterior ends within the longitudinal extensions of theeccentric shafts 105, 106. Thus, the eccentric shafts 105, 106 haveanterior and posterior ends located anteriorly and posteriorly of theanterior and posterior ends of the sealing jaws 101, 102 respectively.

A first and a second guiding bar 109, 110 is bearing mounted on saidfirst and second eccentric shaft 105, 106, respectively. The guidingbars 109, 110 are arranged transversally and perpendicularly to thelongitudinal extension of the first and the second sealing jaw 101, 102.The first guiding bar 109 may for example be attached in its proximalend to the posterior end of the eccentric shaft 105, while the secondguiding bar 110 may be attached in its proximal end to the anterior endof the eccentric shaft 106. Thus, the guiding bars 109, 110 may bearranged anteriorly and posteriorly, respectively, in relation to thesealing jaws 101, 102. Distally, such as in the distal end, the guidingbars 109, 110 are provided with a guiding groove 111, 112. The guidinggrooves 111, 112 are aligned substantially horizontally. When theguiding bars 109, 110 are arranged anteriorly and posteriorly,respectively, in relation to the sealing jaws 101, 102, the replacementof the specific parts may be performed in an easy way. For example,there will be no need for demounting the eccentric shafts, sealing jaws,and guiding bars to replace a guiding bar or bushings related thereto.Guiding bars being independent of the sealing jaws by the use ofseparate guiding pins and grooves, in respect of their communicationwith the eccentric shafts and the alignment of the sealing jaws,eliminates the need of complicated arrangements of induction elements,when such are used in connection to the sealing jaws.

In one embodiment the guiding bars 109, 110 are arched upwardly, suchthat a free passage of sleeves, semi manufactured containers and/orcontainers in the horizontal longitudinal direction is allowed.

Each guiding groove 111, 112 enclose and cooperate with a guiding pin113, 114, arranged on the eccentric shaft 105, 106. The guiding pin 113may thus be arranged in the anterior end of the eccentric shaft 105, andthe guiding pin 114 may be arranged in the posterior end of theeccentric shaft 106. In this way, a play between the first and thesecond eccentric shaft 105, 106 and the first and second sealing jaw101, 102 is allowed in the transversal direction, since the guiding pin113, 114 will run transversally in the guiding groove during rotation ofthe eccentric shafts 105, 106. Also, since the guiding pin is allowed torotate within the guiding groove, small plays in the vertical directionwill be allowed and compensated for, without undue strain on the systemand the parts thereof, while still keeping the sealing jaws 101, 102aligned. Thus, the eccentric shafts 105, 106 may rotate about the firstand the second rotational axis 107, 108, respectively, making thesealing jaws reciprocate/oscillate between the sealing and openpositions. When each eccentric shaft 105, 106 is provided with a guidingbar 109, 110 extending distally towards the other eccentric shaft inopposite ends of the eccentric shafts, the interaction between theguiding grooves and guiding pins will allow for a mutual stabilizationof the eccentric shafts 105, 106, such that a parallel position of thesealing jaws 101, 102 is maintained, regardless of eccenter movement.Thus, this arrangement also allows for asymmetrical movement of theeccenter axes. This means that a failure in one of the servomotorposition error, e.g. due to mechanical wear, or synchronization errorsbetween the servomotors may be compensated for by the interactionbetween the eccentric shafts 105, 106, eliminating the problemsassociated with unimotor alignment control.

As illustrated in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b , eccentering units 115, 116 maybe arranged in the ends of shafts related to the first and secondrotational axes 107, 108, respectively, creating the eccentric shafts105, 106, respectively. When the eccentric shafts 105, 106 are createdby arranging eccentering units 115, 116 in the ends of the shaftsrelated to the first and second rotational axis, exchange of bearings orparts will be facilitated. The first and second sealing jaws 101, 102are bearingly arranged, such as bearing mounted on a first eccentricshaft 105 and a second eccentric shaft 106, respectively. The first andsecond sealing jaws 101, 102 are aligned substantially horizontally andparallel to each other, such that an interaction surface on the firstsealing jaw 101 faces an interaction surface on the second sealing jaw102. The first sealing jaw 101 comprises a heating element, such as aninduction element, for heating and thereby sealing the container bywelding the sleeve together.

A bearing may be arranged, such as fitted, between the guiding pin 113,114 and the guiding groove 111, 112. The bearing may for example be apolymeric box, of a highly durable and low friction polymer. A suitablepolymer for this purpose may be selected from group comprisingpolytetraflouroethylene (PTFE), polyetheretherketon (PEEK), polyimide(PI), polyethersulfon (PES), polyamide (PA), and polyoxymethylene (POM),or any combination of these. When the bearing is a polymeric box of thiskind, an improved long-term fitting between the guiding groove and theguiding pin is achieved, since the plasticity of the polymeric materialwill compensate for the wear of the material. A large contact surfacebetween the polymeric box and the guiding groove provides for an evenbetter compensation for material wear. Thus, a substantially rectangularor square cross section in the transversal plane is provides forimproved compensation for material wear. Due to the positioning of theguiding pins 113, 114 and the guiding grooves 111, 112 laterally of thesealing jaws 101, 102, a play in steering or positioning errors in theeccentric axes will only partly be transferred to the sealing jaws 101,102, depending on the relationship between the distance from the guidingpins 113, 114 to the sealing jaws 101, 102, respectively, and thedistance between the sealing jaws 101, 102 and the rotational axes 107,108, respectively. In this way, such plays may be diminished byapproximately 50 to 90% under normal circumstances, depending on saidrelationship.

A controller 120 (illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b ) may be arranged totransmit control signals to said first and second servomotors 103, 104.The control signals allows for the transversal movement between saidfirst sealing jaw and said second sealing jaw to be synchronized. Whenthe rotations of the first and second sealing jaws 101, 102 aresynchronized the first and second sealing jaws 101, 102 may interactduring each rotation of the first and second eccentric shaft about saidfirst rotational axis and said second rotational axis, respectively. Thefirst and second servomotor 103, 104 will rotate said first and secondeccentric shafts 105, 106 in opposite directions, such that the sealingjaws 101, 102 start to interact when moving downwardly. When the sealingjaws 101, 102 start to interact while moving downwards, the sealingaction will simultaneously push the now sealed container downwardsagainst a transport surface, carrying the container during the sealingstep. This will initiate the folding of the container along pre-printedfolding lines.

In one embodiment (not shown) the first and second guiding bar may alsobe bearing mounted on said first or second eccentric shaft. Still, theguiding bars are arranged transversally and perpendicularly to thelongitudinal extension of the first and the second sealing jaw. Thefirst and second guiding bar may then be attached in their proximal endsto the posterior and anterior end of the eccentric shafts, respectively.Thus, the guiding bars may be arranged anteriorly and posteriorly,respectively, in relation to the sealing jaws. Distally, such as in thedistal end, the guiding bars are provided with one guiding groove each.The guiding grooves are aligned substantially horizontally. Also in thisembodiment each guiding groove will enclose and cooperate with guidingpins, arranged on the other eccentric shaft, in the posterior andenterior end thereof.

According to one embodiment the apparatus according to above iscomprised in a packaging machine for creating filled containers fromblanks or sleeves (not shown). For convenience purposes only the blankembodiment will be referred to below. The packaging machine may comprisea transporter for transporting the blanks and semi manufacturedcontainers between the different stages and units of the packagingmachine. In one embodiment, the packaging machine comprises a loadingunit, wherein blanks are stacked before being processed into a filledcontainer. A folding unit and a bottom sealing unit may be arranged downstreams of the loading unit. After the loading unit, folding unit andbottom sealing unit, the semi manufactured container is transportedhorizontally by the transporter in an upright position, i.e. with anopen end facing upwards, and the now sealed and folded bottom endstanding on the transporter. The semi manufactured containers are thenbrought by the transporter to a filling unit, wherein the containers arefilled with the intended product. Down streams of the filling unit a topsealing apparatus according to the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1, 2 aand 2 b is positioned. The sealing apparatus seals the open top end ofthe semi manufactured containers. Since the guiding bars 109, 110 areseparate from the sealing jaws 101, 102, and possibly upwardly arched,the semi manufactured containers will have free longitudinal andhorizontal transport pathway, eliminating the need of complicatedelevating or lowering actions of the sealing jaws or the semimanufactured container. Also, since the servomotors may be positionedbelow the transporter, and the space above the top sealing apparatus maybe kept open, there is a minimized risk of contaminating the sealingapparatus with products, such as food products, thus limiting thecleaning needs. It will also be possible to seal more than one containerduring each rotation of the eccentric shafts 105, 106, by indexing thetransporter in such way. After the top sealing action has beenperformed, the semi manufactured container may possibly be transportedby the transporter to finalizing unit, performing a final folding of thetop structure of the container. Thereafter, the container leaves thepackaging machine.

Although the present invention has been described above with referenceto specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to thespecific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only bythe accompanying claims and, other embodiments than the specific aboveare equally possible within the scope of these appended claims.

In the claims, the term “comprises/comprising” does not exclude thepresence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individuallylisted, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may beimplemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, althoughindividual features may be included in different claims, these maypossibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in differentclaims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasibleand/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude aplurality. The terms “a”, “an”, “first”, “second” etc do not preclude aplurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as aclarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope ofthe claims in any way.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for sealing an open end of apackage, the method comprising: moving a first longitudinally extendingsealing jaw that is bearing mounted on a first longitudinally extendingeccentric shaft, the moving of the first sealing jaw including movingthe first eccentric shaft by rotating around a first rotational axis;moving a second longitudinally extending sealing jaw that is bearingmounted on a second longitudinally extending eccentric shaft, the movingof the second sealing jaw including moving the second eccentric shaft byrotating around a second rotational axis, the second sealing jaw beingparallel with the first sealing jaw, the moving of the first sealing jawand the moving of the second sealing jaw being synchronized bytransversally extending guiding bars cooperating with the first andsecond eccentric shafts via guiding pins running in guiding grooves, andplay in a transversal direction being permitted between the first andsecond eccentric shafts and the first and second sealing jaws; and themoving of the first sealing jaw and the moving of the second sealing jawincluding moving the first and second sealing jaws toward each other andpressing the open end of the package to seal the open end of thepackage.
 2. The method according to claim 1, comprising moving the firstsealing jaw around the first rotational axis and/or moving the secondsealing jaw around the second rotational axis, by at least one motor. 3.The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one motor includesa first motor and a second motor, the moving of the first sealing jawcomprises moving the first sealing jaw around the first rotational axisby operation of the first motor, and the moving of the second sealingjaw comprises moving the second sealing jaw around the second rotationalaxis by operation of the second motor.
 4. The method according to claim3, wherein the moving of the first and second sealing jaws issynchronized by a controller arranged to transmit control signals to thefirst and second motors, such that the transversal movement between thefirst sealing jaw and the second sealing jaw is synchronized to interactduring each rotation of the first and second eccentric shafts around thefirst rotational axis and the second rotational axis, respectively. 5.The method according to claim 1, wherein the guiding pins include firstguiding pins, and the moving of the first sealing jaw is performed whilethe first guiding pin attached to the first eccentric shaft is runningin a first guiding groove of the guiding grooves in a distal end of thefirst guiding bar.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein theguiding pins further include second guiding pins, and the moving of thesecond sealing jaw is performed while the second guiding pin attached tothe first eccentric shaft is running in a second guiding groove of theguiding grooves in a distal end of the second guiding bar.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 1, including moving the first sealing jaw and thesecond sealing jaw in a downward direction when interacting with eachother for folding the package.
 8. The method according to claim 1,wherein the first and second sealing jaws seal a plurality of packagesat the same time.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the firstand second eccentric shafts have a greater longitudinal extension thanthe first and second sealing jaws.
 10. The method according to claim 1,wherein the first and the second sealing jaws have anterior andposterior ends within the longitudinal extensions of the eccentricshafts.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guiding barsare arranged transversally and perpendicularly to the longitudinalextension of the first and the second sealing jaw, and anteriorly andposteriorly, respectively, in relation to the sealing jaws.
 12. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the guiding bars are archedupwardly.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guiding pinsare provided with a bearing fitted in the guiding grooves.
 14. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the guiding pins are provided witha polymeric block fitted in the guiding grooves.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the guiding grooves are alignedsubstantially horizontally.
 16. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe first and second sealing jaws are aligned substantiallyhorizontally.
 17. A method of producing a package for distributioncomprising: folding and sealing a bottom of the package; filling thepackage with a product to produce a filled package; and sealing a top ofthe filled package by: moving a first longitudinally extending sealingjaw that is bearing mounted on a first longitudinally extendingeccentric shaft, the moving of the first sealing jaw including movingthe first eccentric shaft by rotating around a first rotational axis;moving a second longitudinally extending sealing jaw that is bearingmounted on a second longitudinally extending eccentric shaft, the movingof the second sealing jaw including moving the second eccentric shaft byrotating around a second rotational axis, the second sealing jaw beingparallel with the first sealing jaw, the moving of the first sealing jawand the moving of the second sealing jaw being synchronized bytransversally extending guiding bars cooperating with the first andsecond eccentric shafts via guiding pins running in guiding grooves, andplay in a transversal direction being permitted between the first andsecond eccentric shafts and the first and second sealing jaws; and themoving of the first sealing jaw and the moving of the second sealing jawincluding moving the first and second sealing jaws toward each other andpressing the top of the package to seal the top of the filled package.18. A method for sealing an open end of a package, the methodcomprising: moving a first longitudinally extending sealing jaw that isbearing mounted on a first eccentric shaft, the moving of the firstsealing jaw including moving the first eccentric shaft by rotatingaround a first rotational axis; moving a second longitudinally extendingsealing jaw that is bearing mounted on a second eccentric shaft, themoving of the second sealing jaw including moving the second eccentricshaft by rotating around a second rotational axis, the second sealingjaw being parallel with the first sealing jaw, the moving of the firstsealing jaw and the moving of the second sealing jaw being synchronizedby transversally extending guiding bars which each cooperate with boththe first and second eccentric shafts via guiding pins running inguiding grooves, and play in a transversal direction being permittedbetween the first and second eccentric shafts and the first and secondsealing jaws; and the moving of the first sealing jaw and the moving ofthe second sealing jaw including moving the first and second sealingjaws toward each other and pressing the open end of the package betweenthe first and second sealing jaws to seal the open end of the package.